Demountable spring tire



Patented F eb. 20, 1923.

FRANK eroi/rm, or nous'ron, TEXAS. I

Dniroulvranrn SPRING `rima Appnauon mea member 13, l1322. serial No. eoaeaij To aZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK WV. S'roLTJn, a citizen of the United States, residing `at Houston, in the county otHarris and citate of Texas, have invented a new and usetul Demountable Spring Tire,.ot` `which the .'lollowing'is a specification. i

This invention relates to spring tires for vehicle Wheels,` one of its objects being to provide a deniountable tire of this character which is compact in construction, and yis c apable of yielding so as to absorb shocks as eliiciently asdoes the ordinary cushioned 017 pneumatic tire. v.

Another object is to provide a tire of this character having atiexible tread which will ride over obstructions easily, the working parts of the tire being fully protected from dustand moisture and adapted to hold a suitable lubricant to insure smooth action.

A still further object is to provide a tire, the parts of which can be reached conveniently for thepurpose of repairing or replacing them.

Another object is to provide a tirefvof this character utilizing a flexible tread that can be renewed as desired.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts which will be vhereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that various `changes may be made in the construction and arrangement ot the parts without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a portion of the tire.

Figure 2 is an enlarged section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section, on a reduced scale, on line 3 3, Figure 2.

Figure 4. is a section through a modified structure showing the means employed for attaching the tire to a disk wheel. v

Referring to the figures by characters of reference 1 designates a continuous circular rim to the sides of which are secured rings 2 cooperating with the rim to provide an annular channel 3. The side rings areattached lWithin the y recess.

Aslightly. at their ends so as to the rim V1 by machine screwscb,olts or other suitable generally at 4. i

Secured to the rim 1l at regular. intervals are rectangular blocks 5 having'l rectangular fastening means indicated recesses G, these blocks being attachedl to the v rim preferably by rivets'extendingthrough 'i the bottoms or innerends ofthe lblocks and 'i through the rim. lathe corners 'ofleach `recess 6 are located bearing strips' 8 in which are journaled the necks of antifriction rollers `9 arranged in series, lel with one of the Walls o1"- the recess. Thus the rollers will engage the foursid'es, of a shank 10 rectangulargin cross section and` each series being paralwhich 1s mounted to Work in and outl within the recess 6. This secured to the outer end,v of? the' block 5 and serving to retain the strips 8 androllers 9 shankl() is 'secured to Aa `short segmental backing plate 13`having sidetlangeslt'eX-'- tending `inwardly therefrom. The sides 'of -shank is slidable Within an opening 11 formed in a-,1c`overplate'12A The; outer` end of 'the` the plate fit snugly against the inner '.fa'ces ofthe -side rings2 andare adapted t0 slide thereon. Plate 13 bears'against one'end of a coiled spring 15- the other end of which bears against the rim l, this spring extending around the block 5 as shown. I

It is to be understood that each-of the blocks 5 is provided. with rollers, a spring and a shank as described and the segmental plates on all of the shanks are spaced apart to be capable of moving inwardly relative to each other. They normally define a circle, however and all press against an endless chain 16. This chain consists of flexible transverse pivot pins 17 engaging the end portions of shortl narrow links 18, the ends of' the links being disposed close together, as shown in Figure 2 and all of the links forming a broad chain Fit-ted over the chain or belt 16 is the flexi* i ble tread portion or casing 19 of the tire.

This can be formed of any suitable material and has side aprons 2O lapping and secured to the sides of the rings 2. Holding rings 21 bear against the outer sides of the aprons 2() and are clamped to the aprons by bolts 22 extending through the apronsI and inte. v

the rings 2.4For the purpose of reinforcing the structure, tie bolts 23 are secured 'to the side rings and extend between the springs 15,.,v

lIt is to be understood that a spring tire such as herein described can be placed on the ordinary Wheel and used in lieu of the ordinary demountable rim and tire. lVihen in use the tread portion thereof Will provide the desired degree of resiliency, the shocks being absorbed by the springs 15 and being distributed through the chain or belt to tWo or more of the plates 13 and their springs.

lfthe tire is to be used on a disk Wheel the rim portion of the tire, shown at 24: in Figure 4, will be provided With an angle ring 25 which can be held by rivets or the like to the disk Wheel 26'.

It Will-beseen that a spring tire such as .described is compacty in construction and dust proof. To facilitate the proper operation of the partsopenings 9.6 can be provided Where desired and a` suitable lubricant directed into thetire struct-ure therethrough. These openings can be closed by screw7 plugs 27 or the like.

What is claimed is l. A spring tire including a rim, side plates cooperating therewith to form an annular channel, spaced recessed members secured to the'rim andvvithin the channel, antifriction devices in the recesses,segmen tal backing plates, shanks extending therefrom and slidable in the recesses, an endless chain or ybelt contacting with and extending circumferentially of the plates, springs in the .channels and bearing against the plates to hold the chain taut, a casing extending along the belt and forming the tread portion of the tire, and aprons at the sides of the casing secured to the side rings.

2. A spring tire including a rim, side rings thereon, recessed members secured to the rim, a shank slidable in each member, antifriction devices in the recesses and engaging the shanks, coiled springs extending around said members7 backing plates bearing against the respective springs and secured to the respective Shanks, an endless chain belt engaging and normallyheld taut by the plates, and a casing extending over and in Contact with the belt and secured to the side rings.

A spring tire including a rim, side rings thereon, recessed members secured to the rim, a coiled spring eXtendng around each member, a shank in each member, antifriction devices in each member for centering the shank therein, backing plates bearing against the respective springs and secured to the respective shanks, a transversely and longitudinally flexible cha-in belt engaging and. normally heldI taut by the backing plates, and acasing extending over the belt and detachably secured to the side rings. l

ln testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailiXed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

FRANK W. sToLTJE. i'

Witnesses: y v

I. E. SIMPSON, I HUBERT D. LAWSON. 

